OPINION
Mauricio Pochettino faces the defining summer of his Tottenham Hotspur career as he looks to bolster his squad for another run at silverware in the surrounds of their new stadium.
Spurs fell short in the FA Cup semi-finals last weekend as they lost 2-1 to Manchester United – the eighth semi-final in a row the club have lost – and the club will now end another season without a trophy.
There are several areas which the Argentine must strengthen this summer if Spurs are to achieve material success next season, with the squad lacking the required depth to challenge on several fronts.
One area that needs reinforcement is in central midfield, with Belgian destroyer Mousa Dembele looking like he may leave the club at the end of the season.
As reported by the Mirror, Tottenham are eyeing up a move for Wolves star Ruben Neves this summer, with scouts having watched the 21-year-old in recent weeks.
Neves has been in scintillating form for the promoted outfit this season after joining the club for £16million last summer from FC Porto.
The young central midfielder has scored six goals from the middle of the park including a goal of the season contending volley against Derby County recently.
It is however his all-round play that has impressed, with his maturity in midfield belying his young age. It is no wonder that Neves become the Champions League’s youngest-ever captain for Porto in 2015.
Most eye-catching of all has been his passing range and his technical ability, with Goal reporting that the youngster has been dubbed the ‘new Paul Scholes’, while modelling himself on Andrea Pirlo.
If there is one thing that the Spurs midfield has been missing in recent years it is a pass master, with Dembele, Eric Dier, and Victor Wanyama lacking in that department.
Neves would not come cheap, with his form for Wolves this season meaning they will look for a fee much higher than the £16million they paid a year ago, but it would be worth every penny for Tottenham.
Neves could be the missing piece of the puzzle for Pochettino, and he could be the man to guide Spurs to silverware in the years to come.